Background
Bossley was born in Nelson, New Zealand in 1950 and attended Nelson College in 1962, followed by his final years at Christchurch Boys" High School.
Bossley was born in Nelson, New Zealand in 1950 and attended Nelson College in 1962, followed by his final years at Christchurch Boys" High School.
He initially trained as an architectural technician gaining a NZCD (Architecture) in 1974, and then attended the University of Auckland, graduating with Bachelor of Architecture (Honours) in 1977.
Bossley was an adjunct professor at the Unitec Institute of Technology School of Architecture. As a young architect, Bossley set up a practice with fellow graduates a year after completing his studies. The firm was first called Pete Bossley Architects, and then became Bossley Cheshire Architects, a joint practice with Pip Cheshire from 1984 to 1988.
In 1989 Bossley Cheshire merged with Jasmad and Gibbs Harris to form Jasmax, of which Bossley was a director from 1989 to 1996.
In 1997/8 he undertook the role of adjunct professor at the newly established Unitec School of Architecture, and continued to lecture there for many years. In 1996 Pete Bossley Architects was reestablished.
In 2012 a new company, Bossley Architects, was formed. While studying architecture, Bossley demonstrated an unorthodox personal style, and a strong empathy towards a building’s natural environment.
These aspects are apparent in some of Bossley"s most well-known residential designs such as the Waterfall Bay House, the Brown Vujcich House, and the Okitu House, all of which were award-winning residential designs.
Bossley’s residential designs are characterized by innovative structural elements, bright colour accents, strong geometry, and dramatic individuality. Bossley recently designed the pavilion holiday accommodation in Hawke"s Bay, New Zealand, a structure that has the distinction of being located adjacent to a house designed by acclaimed Māori architect John Scott.